Mosh Pit FAQ

By: Anne Sabino

What is a mosh pit?

What is a mosh pit, you ask? According to non-moshers, the non-believers, it is simply a group of sexually frustrated men running around hitting each other. However, in reality, the mosh pit is much more complex. True, there is physical contact, no doubt about it. To be precise, some of the men in the mosh pit may be sexually frustrated. However, the grossly inaccurate term, "hitting each other," does not nearly encompass what goes on in a mosh pit. To define what a mosh pit is, let us first look at its components, if you will.

We will look and analyze the entire concert floor from stage to wall, respectively. To analyze this simply, I will take a simple, small building that is entirely festival seating (no chairs).

Firstly, there is the stage and the musicians. Many bands out there encourage the moshers, sometimes hosing them off or jumping into the pit. Other bands, however, discourage the act of moshing, typically the mellow bands that did not mean to inspire aggression. (At one show, Jars of Clay stared at the crowd dumfounded and asked us politely to be nice to each other, while at a Squadfive-o show Jeff told us to run around with broken drumsticks stabbing at each other. Ok, so he was not serious, I don’t think.)

Directly in front of the stage is the gate (depending on the size of the show you are at), and pressed against the gate are the people who REALLY came to see the band. This group of people, who have fought hard to get to that spot, stretches from one side of the stage to another, and can be three to about ten people deep. These people, who do not have much of an interest in moshing or crowd surfing rather than just spazz dancing. They stretch outward into the crowd on either side of the stage, forming a kind of "u", cradling the mosh pit, and extending to the end of the crowd in the back.

Behind these die-hard fans always smashed against the fence, is the mosh area. I hesitate to call it the mosh "pit" because there can be several pits, and "pit" does not encompass the people who do not actually mosh, but are intricate to the pit. Let us look at a typical, non-neo-nazi, mosh area.

Firstly, there are the Moshers themselves. The number can vary from two to fifty. They are given a circle to mosh in, usually a perfect circle, with little empty area around them.

Surrounding the Moshers is the Wall. The Wall is typically made up of Moshers who are trying to catch their breath, those who really want to mosh but are scared of getting hurt, and those tougher ones who are trying to work up the nerve to become a Mosher. Never disrespect the Wall. This group is nearly as tough as the Moshers, and protects the rest of the crowd. Their primary duty is to deflect Moshers who have lost their balance and would be flung into a crowd of people who would just as soon not make physical contact with anyone. At some concerts, there are Bouncers in the Wall, sometimes not. The Wall pushes the Moshers back into the pit, and rush to pick up anyone who has fallen near them. The Wall is usually only one person deep, but at rougher concerts; it can be two, and even three people deep.

Circling the Wall, are the curious Onlookers and Crowd Surfers. The ones fascinated by the Moshers but do not want to get smashed by them, like those in the Wall. This space is usually extremely crowded, and a lot of smashing goes on, as those behind them attempt to get closer to the stage. These people must be continually on the lookout for Crowd Surfers, for this is where 90% of crowd surfing occurs. If the smashing is not too considerable, a lot of dancing and very light moshing goes on, and is a suprisingly fun place to be if you do not have the nerve to mosh.

Behind this fun loving group, is the Bored Crowd. Those who can't really see the band, can't see the mosh pit, and maybe really want to see the band, but don't have the nerve to push themselves through the crowd and have to cross the mosh pit. They spend a lot of time smoking cigarettes, sipping drinks, and shifting their weight from foot to foot.

Behind them, are the Minglers, those completely not interested in the music, and use concerts as a social gathering. So is the anatomy of the concert.

Nevertheless, what is the mosh pit? Inside the circle are a group of suprisingly diverse people (yes, girls too) who express their enjoyment of the music with physical contact with fellow moshers.

Why do we mosh?

"Why do we mosh?" is the most frequently asked question by parents and non-believers alike. However, since the people who mosh are so diverse, the reasons to mosh are equally diverse.

The most typical answer is the Rush. The adrenaline rush of peoples being hurled into one another, and the light pain. Another answer is to release pent up aggression. Where else can you slam into another human being and knock them over with no repercussions? Another less verbalized reason is the comradery, the feeling of being connected with the other moshers. All the moshers have, usually, respect for all their fellow moshers. Despite what non-believers may think, there is no desire to cause physical harm to another mosher (though there are exceptions). It is a common scene to see two moshers, strangers, run into each other hard, knock each other over, get up and hug and laugh like brothers. When one is in the mosh pit, everything is forgotten; your bills, the fight with your boy/girlfriend, and your bad grades are all gone. All that exists is the adrenaline singing in your veins, and the feeling of your body. You feel no pain, even if you are truly injured (we have all seen the guy with the broken nose and blood dripping onto his shirt, moshing as hard as ever). Parents may still shake their heads in exasperation at this explanation, but those who have lost themselves in the energy of the pit, and felt as one with all those around, know whereof I speak.

What about crowd surfing and stage diving?

These activities are different from the act of moshing; they are also intricate parts of the modern concert experience. Crowd surfing is a way for those who cannot or will not break through the Wall to experience something like the feeling of moshing. There are only two ways to crowd surf. One is to stage dive, and the other is relying on the help of those around you to get in the air. Once in the air, you are completely at the mercy of those supporting you. You have little to no control as to the direction you are going, but those supporting you typically try to guide you towards the stage. This is usually done, in theory, to prevent the crowd surfer from being surfed into the mosh pit where no one is willing or able to support you. Stage diving is becoming more of a rarity at large shows, where it is nearly impossible to get past security, and is thus more common at smaller club shows. Crowd surfers can float either on their stomachs or on backs, depending on their preference. On your stomach, you are more aware of your surroundings, but to surf on your back is more of a religious experience, and it is easier to relax your body, which is key to becoming a good crowd surfer. Someone once said, "It is an amazing experience to feel so many hands supporting your body [while crowd surfing], determined to keep you afloat, and your body feels completely weightless."

Who is in the mosh pit?

Here I would like to explain the various moshing "types," and the certain people who are in every mosh pit in every concert. There are the staples, the four basic moshing groups.

First, there are the Super Moshers, age twenty to thirty. They all seem to look the same: no shirt, several tattoos (usually tribal), well built upper body, very short or spiky hair, one or two piercings (usually a tongue and a bar through the eyebrow), at least five foot ten, and typically devastatingly attractive. They are the core of the mosh pit. Without them, the whole system would crumble. They are always considerate and without malice. They are rarely drunk, and they keep order. They are the veterans, and have no fear of getting hurt. They always stop to pick up a fallen comrade, and will help an injured mosher to safety. Super Moshers can be rough or extremely gentle, and they never forget the band. They sing the lyrics as they mosh, and always remember to cheer.

Secondly, we have the Drunken Bikers, age 25 to 40. These guys can be devastating to the pit if not properly managed, but they can also be fun. They typically do not know the band, but usually cheer the loudest. They usually have long hair and beer guts (if not completely well rounded). Drunken Bikers always wear 80's metal T-shirts, usually Metallica or Megadeth, too-tight jeans, and combat boots. They have a nasty tendency to fall down more than anyone else does, but miraculously they never seem to get hurt. Having no real sense of how to mosh, the Drunken Bikers just bounce from person to person and rarely do much pushing themselves. One of them is always trying to hold a plastic cup of beer in the mosh pit.

Third, we have the Frat Boys, age 18 to 25. At first glance, this group looks deceivingly like Super Moshers, but there are many differences. Their jeans are more expensive, and they have few to no tattoos and no piercings. Their shirts come off later in the concert, and many are trying to keep their baseball hats on. They have hemp necklaces. Some of them are Super Moshers in training, but usually not. Their style of moshing is quite different as well; they are afraid of getting hurt. Frat Boys mosh in short bursts, spending a considerable amount of time as the Wall. They also spend time daring their fellow Frat Boys to get in the pit. They love to help female crowd surfers get airborne as well.

Lastly, we have the Punk Rockers, age 16-22. They wear punk rock T-shirts (MXPX, Speedy Delivery, and Officer Negative) and have neon hair or dreds. They are always smaller than the rest, under five foot ten, and wiry. Yet this group has no fear of getting hurt, and because of their size, they are notably more aggressive than their larger counterparts. They are amazing to watch because of their appreciable stamina and energy. Unfortunately, this group seems to have the highest injury count. However, their injuries are typically not serious: a bloody nose, or a sprained ankle.

In addition to the aforementioned staples, we have the special individuals who are always in the moshpit in every concert you will ever attend. Though there are many of these constant people, I will only mention a few of my favorites.

There is Frat Boy Gone Crazy. This guy has lost all sense of reality and becomes super-aggressive. His one mission in the pit is to do harm, and throws elbows and fists, sometimes to those in the Wall. He can be very dangerous, and has lost his sense of brotherhood. Typically, he is subdued by either a Bouncer if he has gotten too rough or thrown out of the pit by the Super Moshers.

Then we have the Angry Drunken Biker. He is similar to Frat Boy Gone Crazy, but he is not even trying to mosh anymore. He simply stands in the middle of the pit trying to punch people. He is usually just tired of moshing, and in his drunken stupor does not understand while no people will leave him alone.

We also see the Fourteen Year Old in the Nine Inch Nails T-shirt. This kid usually ends up in the mosh pit by accident, and is desperately trying to escape, but is constantly pushed back in by the wall.

A personal favorite of mine is the Five Foot One Girl. She is amazing. Not that girls in the mosh pit are a rarity, but this girl is tiny, and she delivers damage. She is like a female version of the Punk Rocker, but is more admirable because of her size. She rarely draws blood, but it is not uncommon for her to knock over a Super Mosher or a Drunken Biker. She is highly respected, especially by the Super Moshers she has knocked over.

Also, there is the Hyper Aggressive Wall Guy. This guy does not want to mosh because he is afraid to get hurt, yet he wants to push people around. He takes himself too seriously as part of the Wall, and pushes Moshers too hard. He will sometimes run into the pit just to push someone over and run back to the safety of the Wall. Fortunately, this guy does not last long once he is discovered by the Moshers, and is grabbed and flung into the pit and is not allowed to leave. Or, even more commonly, the other Wall members throw him into the pit. There are too many more of these glorious individuals to mention, but they give the pit character and charm.

Are there different styles of Moshing?

Certainly. The styles of moshing typically vary according to the band playing and the number of people willing to mosh. For an accurate description of the different moshing styles, check out Zen and the Art of the Mosh Pit.

What is the Mosh Pit Etiquette?

Without certain rules, the mosh pit would become what our parents think it is, a riot. Firstly, we must respect the wishes of those who do not want to mosh. It is their right to be near the mosh pit without being thrown into it. In addition, certain males must learn to keep their hungry hands off the private areas of the female crowd surfers (be careful boys, some of us wear steel toed boots for a reason). If you weigh more than 200 pounds, please do not crowd surf. Imagine being the Five Foot One Girl and having the 200-Pound Drunken Biker land on your head. Do not smoke if you are in the Wall, as an lit cigarette can hurt the bare chested Super Mosher pushed into you. If a mosher is trying to escape the pit, the Wall must let him out; do not continuously push him back in. Most importantly, pick up the fallen. Always. If someone has fallen, others can fall on top of them. This is how trampling can happen. And love your fellow mosher. He is your brother. She is your sister.